By Staff
Staff Report
Alabama's nursing homes are in the process of preparing for the upcoming flu season. The pending influenza vaccine shortage has highlighted the need for early flu planning.
In anticipation of the upcoming influenza season, Alabama's nursing homes ordered an adequate supply of the flu vaccine. Nevertheless, approximately 90 percent of the vaccine for nursing homes was ordered from Chiron Corporation, the company which had its license recently suspended.
According to Louis Cottrell, Executive Director of the Alabama Nursing Home Association, "The critical flu vaccine shortage has become an important issue for all states, including Alabama."
The Centers for Disease Control announced priority groups last week for vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine for the 2004-2005 influenza season:
Influenza season typically peeks in the United States between December and March.
Mark Manning, Director of West Gate Village stated that they are doing everything they can to prevent the spread of influenza in the nursing home.